Mountain Temples and Temple Mountains: Architecture, Religion, and Nature in the Central Himalayas

by Nachiket Chanchani, Padma Kaimal (Series Editor), K. Sivaramakrishnan (Series Editor)

From approximately the third century BCE through the thirteenth century CE, the remote mountainous landscape around the glacial sources of the Ganga (Ganges) River in the Central Himalayas in northern India was transformed into a region encoded with deep meaning, one approached by millions of Hindus as a primary locus of pilgrimage.

Nachiket Chanchani's innovative study explores scores of stone edifices and steles that were erected in this landscape. Through their forms, locations, interactions with the natural environment, and sociopolitical context, these lithic ensembles evoked legendary worlds, embedded historical memories in the topography, changed the mountain range's appearance, and shifted its semiotic effect. Mountain Temples and Temple Mountains also alters our understanding of the transmission of architectural knowledge and provides new evidence of how an enduring idea of India emerged in the subcontinent.

Art History Publication Initiative. For more information, visit

Genres: India

288 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2019

Reviews

[Kunal Arora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book while visiting early medieval temples in the central Himalayas, thinking it would complement my experience in the region. While I wasn’t particularly drawn to the detailed focus on temple architecture, I was captivated by the way the book explores the deep connections between the plains and the mountains of India, weaving them into a single cultural and spiritual unity. The author’s exploration of how the Himalayas became sacralized was the most fascinating aspect for me, offering a profound perspective on the origins of this sacred landscape.

[Prateek GOYAL · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book offers an amazing view of Uttarakhand's temple history. It's sequential, with helpful maps and images. The author tells the story in a clear way.

But that's that. The book doesnt dive into spiritual aspects. It is more about the bricks and archeology. It only focuses on Uttarakhand, not Nepal or Himachal Pradesh. Aren't they part of Central Himalayas? It's hard to know how much of the narrative is accurate because author talks only about one of the few possibilites.

Also, author seems to be positive about the British rule, ignoring their negative impact.